Ledger.



Patented 1an. a, |901.

F. PETERS.

L E D G E R (Application led Dec. 26, 1899.)

(Nulodel.)

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NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK PETERS, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO WILLIAM N. WINFIELD,OF SAME PLACE.

LEDGER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 665,694, dated January8, 1901,.

Application'led December 26. 1899. Serial No. 741.567. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK PETERS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Ledgers, of which thefollowing is a specification, reference being had therein to theaccompanying drawings.

The invention relates particularly to looseleaf ledgers so constructedthat the covers are movable to or away from each other to permit of theinsertion of additional leaves.

The invention consists in the peculiar'construction of a locking devicefor securing the covers together after the clamping has been effected,and, further, in the novel means for releasing the lock, as will behereinafter described and shown in the drawings, in which- Figure lis asectional perspective View of a ledger embodying my invention. Fig. 2 isa vertical central section through a portion of the ledger; and Fig. 3is a section on line Fig. 2.

The reference-letters A and B designate, respectively, the upper andlower covers of the ledger or binder, each of which is provided with ahinged strip, the strips being designated, respectively, by the lettersC and D.

The covers referred to are provided with telescoping connecting-posts E,and in the end posts are located coiled springs F of a length to permitof their bearing against the oppositely-arranged strips, the springsacting normally to separate the covers. The strip C is provided with alongitudinal bore a, extending throughout its length from one end of theledger to the opposite end, and Within the bore is located a rock-shaftb, which carries at substantially its center and depending therefrom adog c, arranged adjacent to the central post, as shown in Fig. 1.Theshaft referred to extends in proximity to the end of the ledger thatis ordinarily nearest the operator and is provided with a squared end f.(Shown in the figure last referred to.)

The reference-letter g designates a notched bar or rack secured to thestationary member of the central post, with which the dog is adapted toengage.

h represents a spring connected to the rockshaft at one end and havingits opposite end bearing against the strip C. The spring acts normallyto hold the dog in engagement with the rack.

In order that the rear edges of the leaves of the ledger may be properlyprotected, I arrange between the ledger-covers an extensible casing G.This casing comprises a member H, secured to the'top cover, and acomplementary member I, carried by the lower cover, the sections beingadapted to slide past each other upon the separating or drawing togetherof the covers.

From the above description of my invention it will be seen that theleaves upon being inserted within the ledger may be readily and. quicklyclamped and automatically locked by simply pressing down the uppercover; also, that the covers are capable of being readily released byapplying a key, such as J, to the squared end of the rock-shaft androcking the dog out of engagement with the'rack, the springautomatically separating the covers. Furthermore, by constructing thereleasing device for the covers so that it may be operated from the endof the ledger theseparation of the covers may be effected while theledger is in its open position, which for obvious reasons is of greatconvenience. I have also provided means for limiting the amount ofseparation of the covers in order that the members of the telescopingposts will not be entirely disengaged from one another by the action ofthe springs when the lock is released. The meansI preferably employconsist, essentially, of a headed pin a', arranged within one tubularmember of the central post and detaohably secured to the strip uponwhich the tubular member is looated,and a stop upon the complementarypost member, against which the head of the pin is adapted to strike whenthe covers are at their maximum distance apart.

The pin referred to preferably extends through the strip D and isprovided with a nut b', which holds the pin in its proper position. Thehead c' of the pin extends to near the top of the stationary member andis adapted to strike against a bushing d', carried by the complementarypost member and through which the pin passes.

What I claim as my invention is IOO 1. In a ledger, the combination withthe covers, extensible posts between said covers, a vertical rack nponone of the posts, a transverse rock-shaft journaled in one of thecovers, one of the shaft ends extending in proximity to one of the endsof `the ledger, and a springimpelled dog depending from the rock-shaftand engaging the rack.

2. In a ledger, the combination with the covers, extensible poststherebetween, a rack upon one of the posts, a transverse rock-shaftcarried by one of the covers and having one of its ends extending inproximity to one of the ends of the ledger, and a locking-dog,controlled by the rock-shaft, normally en gaging the rack.

3. In a ledger, the combination with the covers, connections thereforpermitting the covers to be moved toward or away from each other,mechanism acting normally to lock the covers against separation, atransverse roekshaft having one end extending in proximity to one of theledger ends, and connections between the shaft and the lockingmechanism, adapted upon a partial rotation of said shaft to release thecovers to allow of their separation being effected.

4E. In a ledger, the combination with the covers, extensible poststherebetween, a rack upon one of said posts, a rock-shaft,extend ingtransversely of the covers and having one end extending in proximity toone of the ledger ends and a dog controlled by the rockshaft normallyengaging the rack.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

FREDERICK PETERS.

Witnesses:

JAMES WHITTEMORE, H. C. SMITH.

